At-Tawba 9:10 · The Repentance · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"Where believers are concerned, they respect no tie of kinship or treaty. They are the ones who are committing aggression."

Pickthall (classic)+

"And they observe toward a believer neither pact nor honour. These are they who are transgressors."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"In a Believer they respect not the ties either of kinship or of covenant! It is they who have transgressed all bounds."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

اشْتَرَوْاْ بِـَايَـتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً

(They have purchased with the Ayat of Allah a little gain,) idolators exchanged following the Ayat of Allah with the lower affairs of life that they indulged in,

فَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ

(and they hindered men from His way), trying to prevent the believers from following the truth,

إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَلاَ يَرْقُبُونَ فِى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلاًّ وَلاَ ذِمَّةً

(evil indeed is that which they used to do. With regard to a believer, they respect not the ties, either of kinship or of covenant!) 9:9-10. We explained these meanings before, as well as, the meaning of,

فَإِن تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوةَ

(But if they repent, perform the Salah...)

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

О мусульмане! Какой договор может быть у многобожников с Аллахом? Если они обретут достаточно силы для того, чтобы одолеть вас, то не пощадят вас и позабудут о своих родственных связях и договорных обязательствах. Они не будут обращаться с вами по-доброму, опасаясь разгневать Аллаха, а подвергнут вас ужасным мучениям. Они непременно поступят так, если смогут одержать верх над вами. Поэтому вам не следует обольщаться той любезностью, которую они проявляют, пока опасаются вас. Они делают вид, что склоняются на вашу сторону и питают к вам искренние чувства, но в действительности они - ваши заклятые враги, питающие к вам лютую ненависть. И большинство их - грешники, лишенные набожности и мужества.

Maʿārif al-Qur'ān

Mufti Shafi Usmani, English

وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ (Then, if they repent and establish salah and pay zakah, they are your brothers in faith).

Here we are being told that once an enemy - no matter how deadly and no matter how hurtful he has been - becomes a Muslim, things change dramatically. Allah Ta` ala forgives his past sins, all of them. So, it becomes obligatory on Muslims too that they should forget the past, start afresh, take them as their brothers in faith and do whatever it takes to fulfill the rights enjoined under such relationship.

Three Conditions of Entry into the Islamic Brotherhood

This verse makes it clear that there are three conditions of entry into the Islamic brotherhood: (1) Taubah or repentance from Kufr and Shirk, (2) establishment of Salah and (3) payment of Zakah - because, 'Iman (faith) and Taubah (repentance) are concealed matters. Common Muslims cannot find out their reality. Therefore, two of their outward signs were mentioned, that is, Salah and Zakah.

Sayyidna ` Abdullah ibn ` Abbas ؓ said: ` This verse has made the blood of Muslims, who qualify as ` the people of Qiblah,' unlawful حرام (haram).' In other words, people who establish Sarah, pay Zak-ah and have said or done nothing against Islam as proved against them, shall be taken as Muslims in the matter of all religious injunctions - even though, they may not have true 'Iman (faith) in their hearts, or have hypocrisy نفاق (nifaq).

This is the verse Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ had quoted in support of his declaration of Jihad against those who had refused to pay Zakah after the passing away of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . The noble Companions ؓ before whom he had made this assertion were satisfied with his approach. (Ibn Kathir)